EP3150945B1

EP3150945B1 - Refrigerator having locking device for ice bucket and method for installation of locking device of ice bucket

Info

Publication number: EP3150945B1
Application number: EP15186856.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sung Jin Yang
Original assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corp
Current assignee: WiniaDaewoo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-06-17
Filing date: 2015-09-25
Publication date: 2018-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-25
Also published as: EP3150945A1; KR20160148968A; KR101696817B1; US9593877B2; CN106257206A; US20160370099A1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relate to a refrigerator having an ice bucket and a method for installing a device for an ice bucket.

Cited Prior Art

The most relevant prior art documents cited in the European search report are EP 2 650 625 A2 , EP 2 341 303 A2 and EP 2 172 723 A2 . These documents each disclose a method for installing a locking device for an ice bucket according to the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 3.

Background of the Invention

A refrigerator is a device for low temperature storage of food and may be configured to provide freezing storage or cold storage according to the type of food which a user wants to store.
The inside of the refrigerator is continuously supplied by cold air. The cold air is continuously generated by a heat exchange process with a refrigerant which goes through a process of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation. The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is evenly transferred by convection to maintain the food in the refrigerator at a desired temperature.
Generally, a main body of the refrigerator has a rectangular parallelepiped shape of which the front surface is opened and the inside of the main body may be provided with a refrigerating space and a freezing space. Further, the front surface of the main body may be provided with a refrigerating space door and a freezing space door for selective accessing of a portion of the refrigerator. A storage space in the refrigerator may be provided with multiple drawers, shelves, receiving boxes, etc., in which various food may be stored in an optimal condition.
Traditionally, a top mount type refrigerator has a freezing space positioned in an upper portion and has a refrigerating space positioned in a lower portion. Recently, however, for user convenience, a bottom freezer type refrigerator in which the freezing space is positioned in a lower portion has been released. In the case of the bottom freezer type refrigerator, a frequently used refrigerating space is positioned in an upper portion and a relatively less used freezing space is positioned in a lower position. Thus a user may conveniently use the refrigerating space. However, since the freezing space is positioned in the lower portion, the bottom freezer type refrigerator has a problem in that a user needs to bend over to open the freezing space door to remove ice.
To solve the above problem, recently, a refrigerator has been released in which an ice dispenser is installed at the refrigerating space door positioned in the upper portion of the bottom freezer type refrigerator. In this case, the refrigerating space door or the inside of the refrigerating space may be provided with an ice machine.
The ice machine may include an ice space which includes an ice tray that generates ice, an ice bucket in which the generated ice is stored, and a transfer assembly transferring the ice stored in the ice bucket to the dispenser.
The ice bucket may be drawn into the ice space or drawn out of the ice space while sliding through the opened front surface of the ice space. Further, the refrigerator may include a locking device which locks the ice bucket to prevent the ice bucket from being drawn out of the ice space by itself.
The existing locking device for the ice bucket is provided with a projection fixed at one side thereof and prevents the ice bucket from being drawn out of the ice space by itself by locking or unlocking a locking portion. The locking part is locked to the projection, or from the projection, by a spring and an opening button.
However, the existing locking device as described above is inconvenient because operating the opening button requires both hands. Further, the existing locking device has a complicated structure due to the spring and the opening button being separately installed and thus has a high failure rate, increased cost of materials, etc.
Further, since the existing locking device uses a metal spring, when the locking device is used for a long period of time, the locking device may have reduced elastic force due to spring aging or may not operate due to spring corrosion. As a result, the operating performance of the ice bucket may be reduced.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the above, the present invention provides a method for installing a locking device for an ice bucket according to the features of claim 1 which is capable of increasing user convenience by allowing a user to draw out the ice bucket with one hand, having reduced material cost, and improved durability through simplified structures.
Further, the present invention provides an apparatus having an ice bucket and a locking device for an ice bucket according to the features of claim 3.
There is provided a refrigerator having a locking device for an ice bucket, the refrigerator including: a main body; a storage space formed inside the main body; an ice space inside the main body and partitioned from the storage space and having a front opening. The refrigerator further includes an ice bucket including an ice storage portion which stores ice generated in the ice space and a cover member which is disposed in front of the ice storage portion to cover the front of the ice space and slidably installed in the ice space to open and close the ice space. The refrigerator further includes a locking device configured to lock the ice bucket to the ice space to prevent the ice bucket from being drawn out of the ice space by itself. The locking device includes: a projection configured to protrude from an inner side of the ice space toward the ice bucket; an elasticity module portion disposed in at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the ice bucket and including an elastic piece which has one end fixed to the ice bucket and the other end in a free state to provide an elastic force; and a locking cover including a hook portion which is applied with an elastic force from the elastic piece and to be locked to the projection. The locking cover is coupled with the elasticity module portion to cover the elasticity module portion.
The elasticity module portion may be integrally formed in the ice bucket.
The elastic piece includes: a wave portion configured to be bent in a wave shape with a predetermined length extending from a point fixed to the ice bucket toward the free end to produce the elastic force; and a plane portion flatly formed from the wave portion to the free end to push portion the hook portion of the locking cover toward the projection.
The hook portion may include: an elastic support portion configured to have a substantially square shape and have a surface coupled to the locking cover and a plurality of surfaces (e.g., three) cut to move independently from the locking cover; a protrusion configured to protrude toward a free end of the elastic support portion to be locked to the projection; and an extending arm configured to extend from a surface of the protrusion of the elastic support portion toward the elastic piece to be applied with an elastic force.
The locking cover may be separably coupled with the elasticity module portion.
The locking device may be installed at either of the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket, and the other portion of the ice bucket may be disposed with a first locking hook extending from the ice space and a second locking hook, extending from the ice bucket, to be locked to the first locking hook.
The locking device may be installed at both the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for installing a locking device for an ice bucket, the method including: forming an elasticity module portion including an elastic piece of which one end is fixed and the other end is in a free end disposed in at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the ice bucket in a refrigerator; molding a locking cover including a hook portion protruding from a side thereof; coupling the locking cover with the elasticity module portion so that a surface contacts a free end of the elastic piece; and installing a projection protruding from an inner side of an ice space of the refrigerator and extending toward the ice bucket so that the hook portion is locked.
The elastic piece is molded to have a wave portion bent in a wave shape with a predetermined length extending from a point fixed to the ice bucket toward a free end to produce the elastic force and a plane portion flatly formed from the wave portion to the free end to push the hook portion of the locking cover toward the projection.
The hook portion may have a substantially square shape and may be molded to include an elastic support portion having a surface coupled to the locking cover and a plurality of surfaces (e.g., three) cut to move independently from the locking cover, a protrusion protruding to the free end of the elastic support portion to be locked to the projection, and an extending arm extending from a surface of the protrusion of the elastic support portion toward the elastic piece to be applied with the elastic force.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bucket that is drawn out from an ice space of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating an exemplary locking device for an ice bucket according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a locking state of the locking device for the ice bucket according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary locking device of the ice bucket, according to an embodiment of the present invention, installed at one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the ice bucket; and
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a locking device of the ice bucket, according to an embodiment of the present invention, installed at both the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Hereinafter, constructions and actions according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
However, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of well-known constructions or functions will be omitted to make the present invention clear.
Terms including an ordinal number such as 'first', 'second', etc., can be used to describe various components, but the components are not to be construed as being limited to the terms. The terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component.
Terms used in the present application are used only in order to describe specific embodiments. Singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" or "have" used in this application, specify the presence of stated features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or a combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or a combination thereof.
Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 having a locking device 100 for an ice bucket 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a main body 10, a storage space 20, an ice space 30, the ice bucket 40, and the locking device 100.
The main body 10 forms the appearance and supporting structure of the refrigerator 1 and may provide a space in which the components listed above and other components used in the operation of the refrigerator 1 may be formed or installed therein.
The storage space 20 is formed inside the main body 10 and has a front surface opening. The storage space 20 may be partitioned into a refrigerating space and a freezing space by a partition wall.
The front surface of the storage space 20 may be opened and closed by a pair of doors 21 which rotate and are hinge-coupled with the main body 10. The door 21 may be provided with a dispenser 50 which may extract ice generated in the ice space 30 from the outside without opening the door 21.
The dispenser 50 may include an extraction space 51 which may allow ice to be dispensed, a lever 52 which may select whether to extract ice, and a chute 53 which guides ice discharged through an ice discharge port 40a of the ice bucket 40 to the extraction space 51.
Further, the ice space 30 may be disposed inside the main body 10 and partitioned from the storage space 20. The ice space 30 may be formed to have a front opening. The ice space 30 may be disposed at one side of the storage space 20 and may be partitioned from the storage space 20 by a wall of the ice space.
The ice space 30 may be provided with an ice assembly to generate ice, the ice assembly may be of any well-known design and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Further, the ice bucket 40 may be slidably installed in the ice space 30 to open and close the ice space 30. The ice bucket 40 may include an ice storage portion 41 which stores ice generated in the ice space 30 and a cover member 42 which is disposed in front of the ice storage portion 41 to cover the front of the ice space 30.
Further, the locking device 100 may lock the ice bucket 40 to the ice space 30 to prevent the ice bucket 40 from being drawn out of the ice space 30 by itself. When the ice bucket 40 is locked to the ice space 30 by the locking device 100, the ice bucket 40 may not be drawn out from the ice space 30 by itself as long as a user does not apply an external force and may be kept in a locking state.
Hereinafter, the locking device 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bucket that is drawn out from the ice space of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the locking device for the ice bucket according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the locking state of the locking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the locking device 100 may include a projection 110 formed inside the ice space 30, an elasticity module portion 120 formed in the ice bucket 40, and a locking cover 130.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the projection 110 may protrude from an inner side of the ice space 30 toward the ice bucket 40.
In one embodiment, when the projection 110 is installed on the ceiling 30a of the ice space 30, the projection 110 may be disposed to protrude downward from a position contacting the cover member 42 of the ice bucket 40. Further, when the projection 110 is installed on the floor of the ice space 30, the projection 110 may be disposed to protrude upward from a position contacting the cover member 42 of the ice bucket 40 or the ice storage portion 41.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the elasticity module portion 120 may be a depression formed in at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket 40. The elasticity providing portion 120 may be integrally formed in the ice bucket 40.
The elasticity module portion 120 may be provided with the elastic piece 121 which is configured to produce an elastic force.
One end of the elastic piece 121 is fixed to the ice bucket 40 and the other end is free from (e.g., not connected to) the ice bucket 40 and thus may be formed in the free end state.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the elastic piece 121 may include a wave portion 121a and a plane portion 121b.
The wave portion 121a has a structure that increases the elastic force of the elastic piece 121 and the wave portion 121a may be bent in a wave shape with a predetermined length that extends from a point fixed to the ice bucket 40 toward the free end. The wave portion 121a has a structure in which protrusions and depressions are repeated, and as a result, its ability to provide elastic force may be increased and is less likely to be deformed or destroyed even though substantial force is applied to the wave portion 121a. Further, the plane portion 121b is flatly formed from the wave portion 121a toward the free end and thus may contact the locking cover 130 to provide an elastic force.
Further, the locking cover 130 is coupled with the elasticity module portion 120 and receives the elastic force from the elastic piece 121 and may cover a portion of the elasticity providing portion 120. The locking cover 130 may be formed approximately with a flat side and another side thereof may be disposed with a hook portion 131 protruding to a predetermined height on one side thereof to be locked to the projection 110 by the elastic force from the elastic piece 121.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the hook portion 131 may include an elastic support portion 131a, a protrusion 131b, and an extending arm 131c.
The elastic support portion 131a may have a substantially squared shape and may be formed in a structure with a surface integrally coupled with the locking cover 130 and a plurality of surfaces (e.g., the other three surfaces) cut to move independently from the locking cover 130. Therefore, one end of the elastic support portion 131a may be a fixed end which is fixed to the locking cover 130 and the end opposite thereto may be a free end.
Further, the protrusion 131b may be formed to protrude from the free end of the elastic support portion 131a and to be locked to the projection 110. The extending arm 131c extends from the opposing surface of the protrusion 131b of the elastic support portion 131a toward the elastic piece 121 and thus may easily receive the elastic force of the elastic piece 121.
Therefore, the elastic force exerted from the elastic piece 121 (for example, the plane portion 121b of the elastic piece 121) is applied to the protrusion 131b through the extending arm 131c and the protrusion 131b is locked into the projection 110 while moving in the same direction as the elastic force.
The locking cover 130 may be separably coupled with the elasticity module portion 120. Therefore, a portion of the locking cover 130 may also be separated from the elasticity module portion 120 as needed when the locking cover 130 is coupled with the elasticity module portion 120.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the locking device 100 is installed at one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket 40. One of the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket 40 may include a first locking hook 11 extending from the ice space 30. A second locking hook 12 may extend from the ice bucket 40 to be locked to the first locking hook 11.
FIG. 6 illustrates that the upper portion of the ice bucket 40 is disposed with the locking device 100 and the lower portion of the ice bucket 40, at which the locking device 100 is not installed, may be disposed with the first locking hook 11 and the second locking hook 12 to lock between the ice space 30 and the ice bucket 40. In another embodiment, the lower portion of the ice bucket 40 is disposed with the locking device 100 and the upper portion of the ice bucket 40 may be provided with the first locking hook 11 and the second locking hook 12 to lock between the ice space 30 and the ice bucket 40.
Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the locking device 100 may also be installed both at the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket 40.
Hereinafter, a method for installing a locking device 100 for an ice bucket 40 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described and a detailed description thereof will cite the foregoing description.
According to the method for installing a locking device 100 for an ice bucket 40, the elasticity module portion 120 is configured to provide the elastic force and may be formed as a in at least any one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket 40 which is disposed in the refrigerator.
The elasticity module portion 120 may include the elastic piece 121 and the elastic piece 121 may be integrally molded in the ice bucket 40 with one end fixed to the ice bucket 140 and the other end in a free state.
The elastic piece 121 may be molded to have a wave portion 121a bent in a wave shape, with a predetermined length and extending from a point fixed to the ice bucket 40 toward the free end to produce the elastic force, and the plane portion 121b flatly formed from the wave portion 121a toward the free end.
Further, the locking cover 130 may be provided separately from the elasticity module portion 120. The locking cover 130 may be injection-molded so that the hook portion 131 protrudes on one side thereof. The hook portion 131 may have a substantially square shape and may be molded to include the elastic support portion 131a having one surface coupled to the locking cover 130 and three surfaces cut to be separated from the locking cover 130. The protrusion 131b protrudes toward the free end of the elastic support portion 131a to be locked to the projection 110 and the extending arm 131c extends from another surface of the protrusion 131b of the elastic support portion 131a toward the elastic piece 121 and is applied with the elastic force.
As such, after the elasticity module portion 120 is formed in the ice bucket 40 and the locking cover 130 is molded separately therefrom, the locking cover 130 may be coupled with the elasticity module portion 120 so that a surface of the hook portion 131 contacts the free end of the elastic piece 121. Further, the projection 110 is disposed at the inner side of the ice space 30 of the refrigerator so that the hook portion 131 is locked with a portion of the projection 110 protruding toward the ice bucket 40, and as a result the installation of the locking device 100 is complete.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the user may advantageously draw out the ice bucket with one hand to increase the convenience of the ice bucket and the structure may be simplified to save material cost and improve durability.
Further, the elastic force may be provided without need of the spring of the metal material and therefore the same elastic force is maintained even after long-term use, thereby increasing the reliability of products.

Claims

A method for installing a locking device for an ice bucket (40), the method comprising:
forming an elasticity module portion (120) comprising an elastic piece (121) wherein one end is fixed and the other end is in a free end, wherein the elasticity module portion (120) is formed in at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the ice bucket (40) disposed in a refrigerator (1);

molding a locking cover (130) comprising a hook portion (131) protruding from a side thereof;

coupling the locking cover (130) with the elasticity module portion (120), wherein a surface contacts the free end of the elastic piece (121); and

installing a projection (110) protruding from an inner side of an ice space (30) of the refrigerator (1) toward the ice bucket (40) to lock the hook portion (131) thereto,

the method being characterized in that

the elastic piece (121) is molded to have a wave portion (121a) bent in a substantially wave shape with a predetermined length, extending from a point fixed to the ice bucket (40) toward the free end, to produce the elastic force and a plane portion (121b) flatly formed and coupled to the wave portion (121a) toward the free end and configured to push the hook portion (131) of the locking cover (130) toward the projection (110).
The method of claim 1, wherein the hook portion (131) has a substantially square shape and is molded to comprise an elastic support (131a) comprising: a surface coupled to the locking cover (130); and a plurality of surfaces cut to more independently from the locking cover (130), wherein the elastic support (131a) comprises a protrusion (131b) protruding from the free end of the elastic support portion (131a) and configured to be locked to the projection (110), and an extending arm (131c) extending from the opposing surface of the protrusion (131b) of the elastic support portion (131a) toward the elastic piece (121) and to be applied with the elastic force.
An apparatus comprising:
an ice bucket (40) comprising: an ice storage portion (41) for storing ice generated within an ice space (30); and a cover member (42) which is disposed in front of the ice storage portion (41) to cover a front of the ice space (30) and configured to be slidably installed in the ice space (30); and

a locking device (100) configured to lock the ice bucket (40) within the ice space (30) to prevent the ice bucket (40) from being drawn out, wherein the locking device (100) comprises:
a projection (110) configured to protrude from an inner side of the ice space (30) toward the ice bucket (40);

an elasticity module (120) comprising an elastic piece (121) with one end fixed to the ice bucket (40) and another end in a free state and configured to provide an elastic force; and

a locking cover (130) comprising a hook portion (131) which receives the elastic force from the elastic piece (121), wherein the hook portion (131) is configured to be locked to the projection (110), and wherein the locking cover (130) is coupled with the elasticity module (120) and is configured to cover a portion of the elasticity module (120), the apparatus being characterized in that

the elastic piece (121) comprises: a wave portion (121a) bent in a substantially wave shape with a predetermined length to produce the elastic force; and a plane portion (121b) flatly formed and coupled to the wave portion (121a) toward the free end and configured to push the hook portion (131) of the locking cover (130) toward the projection (110).
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elasticity module portion (120) is integrally formed in the ice bucket (40).
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hook portion (131) comprises:
an elastic support portion (131a) having a substantially square shape and having a surface coupled to the locking cover (130) and a plurality of surfaces cut to move independently from the locking cover (130);

a protrusion (131b) protruding toward a free end of the elastic support portion (131a) and configured to be locked to the projection (110); and

an extending arm (131c) extending from a surface opposite the protrusion (131b) of the elastic support portion (131a) toward the elastic piece (121) and configured to be applied with the elastic force.
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the locking device (100) is disposed in one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket (40), and wherein an opposing side of the ice bucket (40) comprises a first locking hook (11) extending from the ice space (30) and comprising:
a second locking hook (12) extending from the ice bucket lock to the first locking hook (11).
A refrigerator having an apparatus of claim 3 and a locking device (100) for an ice bucket (40), the refrigerator (1) further comprising:
a main body (10);

a storage space (20) within the main body; and

an ice space (30) disposed inside the main body, and partitioned from the storage space (20), and having a front opening.
The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the elasticity module portion (120) is integrally formed in the ice bucket (40).
The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the hook portion (131) comprises:
an elastic support portion (131a) having a substantially square shape and comprising a surface coupled to the locking cover (130); and a plurality of surfaces cut to move independently from the locking cover (130);

a protrusion (131b) protruding toward a free end of the elastic support portion (131a) and configured to be locked to the projection (110); and

an extending arm (131c) extending from a surface opposite the protrusion (131b) of the elastic support portion (131a) toward the elastic piece (121) and configured to be applied with the elastic force.
The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the locking cover (130) is separably coupled with the elasticity module portion (120).
The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the locking device (100) is disposed in one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the ice bucket (40) and wherein an opposing side of the ice bucket (40) comprises a first locking hook (10) extending from the ice space (30) and comprising:
a second locking hook (12) extending from the ice bucket lock to the first locking hook (11).
The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein a first locking device (100) is disposed in the upper portion of the ice bucket (40) and a second locking device (100) is disposed at the lower portion of the ice bucket (40).